The Bangladesh National Museum Bill 2021 passed in the parliament on Wednesday, aiming to make the country's museums more dynamic and vibrant.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid placed the bill in the House and it was unanimously passed by voice votes, with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The bill will replace the 1983 ordinance.
It has a provision of a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Tk10 lakh or both for anyone who destroys or damages the museum artefacts or immovable specimens. This will be applicable to other museums alongside the National Museum.
Theft, trafficking, destruction, vandalism, alteration, or damage to movable property will result in a maximum of five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Tk5 lakh.
In addition, anyone carving or writing on museum artefacts will face a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of Tk10,000.
The existing law did not provide for the position of curator of museums. The post of the assistant curator has also been proposed in the new bill.
A board of directors has been proposed with the minister or state minister of cultural affairs as the chair for the management of the museum. The bill stipulates that the museum’s director-general will also be appointed by the government.
The draft law provides for a virtual museum. Besides, provision has been made to hold exhibitions outside Dhaka and the country.
The bill further states that with the approval of the government, branch museums, thematic museums, memorial museums, museums, research centres and archives can be set up and controlled anywhere except in divisional and district cities.
